[the vibes are absolutely rancid and she would like to gouge every single one of lucien's eyes out.

anyway, she looks a little relieved when she spots vax (and percy) in the workshop, and crosses over to him.]

...can I help at all? I can fetch supplies from other parts of the workshop, if you need.

[she nods.

her bag is looking pretty full - she's already raided the medbay, just in case anything gets out of hand with the way people have been feeling tonight - so she doesn't really need to go steal more supplies right now, at least. for now, she'll make herself as useful to percy as possible while he's making bullets, and stick around nearby while vax sharpens daggers.]

Have you been making many of those?

...I have my knife.

[and she's pretty good with her hands... s...o...]

And my needles. I can reinforce them with my color, and there are certain points where, if I jam them into someone hard enough - the chances of killing them are quite high.

...I've got my gumballs, too.

Wings for an hour - and minor healing, if it's needed. And... ah, I can use an elemental spell if I take the form of a cat. [...] I want to fight beside you all and support you, but -

I want to be there to help if anyone gets hurt, too.

It's the one I got from when I went to that place in Steel's memories - I had wings, there. So maybe that's why.

[


what the fuck]

Do you want to trade? I trust you all to cover me if I get stuck.

Like I said, I trust you. If I do use it, it would probably be to drag someone who's hurt to a safer location for treatment - so, I know you wouldn't allow anything to happen to me for the five minutes I couldn't move afterward.

[...well.

she has a feeling.]

Does... does your last one also let you become an animal.

[in her best impression of estinien:]

Well, people do lie.

[she smiles faintly and hands him the pink-and-purple swirled gumball.]

Here. I know you'll make good use of it.

Good - I'm glad I stopped by today, then.

[if it's made him feel even a little more prepared...

well, so much the better.]

I've got your back.

[she smiles back, but then her expression turns determined.]

...tomorrow will be - something. I don't know quite what, yet. But I'm not scared, because I know I'll be facing it with all of you.

Yes, we are.

[jiuqing is not allowing herself to think of any other outcome right now. maybe if they all focus on this enough, they'll manifest it into existence. isn't the prism meant to respond to their wills? there are like 36 of them - surely that will be more than enough to overpower lucien's.]

...thank you, for letting me become a part of your family. I'm really grateful.

Of course.

[there's no way she was going to let anything happen to either one of them.]

...from what I've heard about them, I think I'd like them, too.

[her expression softens a little - it's mostly hopeful, but there's the beginning of sadness there - what if they can't see each other, once this is done? what if they make it to the end and they have to say goodbye for good?

she doesn't want that.]